by Poppy Rhys
She laughed and shrugged, setting the transport to the Mezook Lodge where this event would be held. “I’m surprisingly good with all of it. As long as you promise to save a dance for me.”
“Just one?”
She canted her head to the side, shooting me a sly smile. “Okay, five. Six. All the dances.”
I chuckled. “You got it.”
The ride into town, I tried to stave off the feeling of dread that was determined to eat me up from the inside. The clock continued to count down my impending return to prison.
I glanced at the time.
8:45PM
Three hours.
I had three hours to make the most of it with Holly and I’d be damned if I let my dread fuck that up.
****
HOLLY
“You may now kiss the bride!”
Seeing George lay a chaste kiss on Perry didn’t turn my stomach like I imagined it would.
I didn’t really feel anything. Not about them, anyway. I was too torn up over the fact that, after tonight, Kye would be gone.
My determination to free him hadn’t delivered, but I wouldn’t give up. I’d keep searching for answers, for a way to get him out of that prison.
When everyone stood to clap, I did the same.
To be frank, I couldn’t wait for the reception to start. I needed a few glasses of champagne to loosen me up because I felt like a tightly twisted pretzel.
“You’re frowning, darling,” Mom whispered while she clapped as Perry and George walked by. “Smile, there’s a photographer.”
The absurdity of her words did make me smile. I might’ve laughed too, but I made sure to smile for the damn camera. If anything, I hoped it made Perry question my sanity whenever she picked through her wedding album.
By the time the reception started and the live band sang an upbeat tune, after the bride and groom’s first dance, Kye led me to the dance floor beneath the twinkling fairy lights.
To say he made me laugh was an understatement—and I hadn’t even touched the alcohol yet!
“Isn’t this proper ‘old Earth’ stuff?” he asked while he pulled a famous disco move.
“Oh god...” I covered my face. “Please don’t tell me you watched Saturday Night Fever.”
“Gretta said it was the best vid for dance moves.” He told me this as he gyrated his hips in a way that should be against the law.
“Gretta? You took advice from Gretta?”
He spun on one hoof before shuffling left to right, eating up space between us. “Course I did. She’s your favorite aunt!”
“Hold on,” I begged, trying to catch my breath in between sudden and strong bursts of laughter. “I can’t breathe!”
“Where do you think you’re going?” He snatched my hand and tried to keep me from leaving the dance floor.
“I can’t—” I cracked up again as he twirled and dipped me before busting out another solo move. “I can’t be seen with you!”
He laughed too, not allowing me to leave his side, blocking any attempts to exit the dance floor until I finally gave in.
“Fuck it!” I tossed my hands in the air after knocking back a flute of champagne. We’d just look like a pair of idiots in the crowd!
At some point I’d tossed my heels toward the edge of the space and was wildly flailing barefoot with Kye.
“Your dance moves are top notch!” he praised, his goofy grin making my heart beat faster.
“You like? I call this the flamingo on fyaaa!”
I had no idea what I was doing.
I couldn’t dance, remember? But, dammit, making a fool of myself with Kye was exactly what I needed.
When the band slowed it down, Kye pulled me close and took lead, careful not to step on my toes. It wasn’t anything showy, but the way he held me close, protecting me from other dancers who twirled by...
I’d miss everything about this dance.
I’d miss everything about Kye.
He dipped his head toward me, gently pressing his hardened forehead against mine. He whispered, “Don’t think about it.”
If I ever thought I’d hidden my true thoughts from Kye’s perceptive eyes, I’d been kidding myself.
I tipped my head back, opening myself up. He took the hint, carefully pressing his lips to mine but I wanted more.
“I saw a utility closet in the hall,” I teased, waggling my brows.
“Say no more,” he rumbled, grabbing my hand, and leading me off the dance floor. He moved fast enough that I was speed walking, nearly skipping, by the time we slipped into the wooden lodge’s hallway.
The one flute of bubbly had already gone to my head, making my body extra warm and every brush of Kye’s palms felt like delicious flames.
“In here, hurry,” I urged, opening the closet and rushing in. The space was tight and smelled like cleaning chemicals, but we didn’t need anything fancy.
Laughter bubbled out of me when Kye’s growl tickled my skin as he planted rushed, eager kisses anywhere his lips landed.
“Bewitching creature,” he accused, kneading my ass cheeks and pulling me tightly to him. Up I went, my dress riding around my hips as my legs circled his waist, ankles locking.
“This fucking tuxedo,” he grunted, popping buttons, and I laughed again. “Shhhh,” he hushed me, “or we’ll be discovered, and there’s no goddamn way I’m leaving this closet until I’ve thoroughly fucked you.”
Oh, sweet, sweet galaxies.
My toes curled and my pussy clenched so tightly it hurt in the most heavenly way. “Yes. Please.” And then I used his own words back at him. “I give you permission to objectify me.”
That earned me an appreciative rumble.
“You... you’re not wearing panties?” His voice, gravely and low, was barely decipherable from a feral snarl.
So, I leaned in close, pressing my lips to his pointed ear. “I said I’d burn all my panties just for you.”
His chest vibrated against mine with his spiraling growl when he positioned the head of his cock, wasting no time before he rolled his hips, shoving into me.
I had to bite my lips just to keep from screaming. The sweet mixture of pleasure and pain, stretching too soon too fast, was quickly swept aside when his extra appendage vibrated against my clit.
A drek, he’d called it. I didn’t care what it was called, I only cared that it was fucking amazing.
The grunts and groans pouring out of Kye on each thrust set every part of my body trembling with lust. I worked with him, tilting my hips to meet him every time.
Every push was deep, thorough, stretching and reaching hidden spots inside me until I was fisting my hands into his mane just to hold tight.
“Holly,” he moaned into my ear, setting off a chain reaction throughout my entire fucking body as I squeezed my eyelids shut and shattered, creaming on his cock.
We moved together, breaths coming faster. Kye’s movements hitched and I felt the moment he burst inside me.
I loved it. Loved everything about it.
Didn’t want it to end. I wanted Kye again, and again. I’d never get enough and, even as he carefully pulled out of me and set me on my feet, I wanted to climb his body like a tree and hop on for round two.
We borrowed some paper towels on the shelf and cleaned up in between bouts of more kisses and gropes.
We said what we wanted with actions.
I want you. I miss you. Even though you’re not gone yet, I miss you.
I... I... I lo—
Voices had us freezing against each other, careful not to make any noise and be discovered.
“Of course I’m pissed,” someone hissed. “She made a fool of herself at my wedding. Did you see the way people stared at them? Ugh!”
My heart sped up for a different reason altogether now.
“I asked around and no one’s even heard of the guy.” Amelie. “They seemed to be having fun.” She chuckled before sucking it down. “I mean, yeah, totally uncalled for.”
&nb
sp; I imagined Perry’d sent Amelie one of her famously cold glares for daring to go against her.
“Dirk said he’s from out of town.” Dasha. That was Dasha. What was she doing talking to my cousin? “I can’t believe you guys made me go on a date with that guy just to get information. Gross.”
My jaw went slack. Did Dirk know he’d been used?
“She probably paid him to be her date,” Perry snidely remarked, pulling laughter from Dasha and Amelie. “Ugh, help me get these shoes off. I need to rest for a minute before I go back in there.”
My skin prickled and I could feel Kye looking at me in the dark, which made it all the worse.
People talked. They did stupid stuff like that. I could take it. Brush it off or cry about it in the comfort of my own apartment, but to be standing next to Kye as they talked about how sad and pitiful I was...
It was an entirely new level of shame.
When Kye gripped my shoulder, I couldn’t even look at him. Not now. Not at this very minute.
Not while they laughed at me and a few other poor souls at the reception. Guests George had invited that Perry decidedly didn’t like.
Nasty, vile, uncalled for stuff.
I couldn’t handle it.
A sick cocktail of embarrassment and unholy rage collided inside me until I grabbed the handle and burst through the door.
Perry had no right—no damn right—to talk about me, and words flew from my mouth before I could stop myself.
“You,” I pointed at Perry, whose startled eyes had grown to the size of saucers, “you don’t get to talk about me like that. For three years I’ve put up with your shit, Perry. Three! Years! First, you go behind my back and fuck my boyfriend, which used to burn my ass but, ya know what? I’m glad you helped show me just what a terrible human being he was. Is. Who really knows?”
The words poured from me like a busted pipe that had no hope of being repaired. Once it started, I couldn’t stop.
“I’m tired of your lies and your pathetic need to put me down to anyone who’ll listen. Why, Perry? What have I done to you? What’s so broken and twisted inside you that you feel the need to constantly attack me?”
She opened her mouth and I held up a hand, shushing her. “It was rhetorical. I don’t really give a fuck. I just want you to know that you can’t do anymore damage. I came here today to try to be the bigger person and let things go. You know,” I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, “I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry that you have nothing better to do than find new ways to hurt or embarrass me. I feel sorry that even your own mother can’t stand to be around you.”
Perry’s face grew pink and pinched, yet I still couldn’t stop.
“I feel sorry that one day, someone younger and prettier than you might come along and ruin your relationship because let’s be honest—George cheated once, who’s to say it won’t happen again? I just...” I shrugged, the inflated anger making me shake, “I just feel sorry for you.”
My nose felt stuffed and I knew if I didn’t get out of there soon, the waterworks would start, and I couldn’t handle crying in front of these people. I turned to leave but then held up a finger and turned back. Perry’s face was as red as a strawberry and her eyes shot arrows of hatred at me.
“Also, I got you a waffle maker, but I hope it burns everything you try to cook!”
It was petty, but it felt good. I really did hope it burnt all her waffles. If she even used it. Knowing Perry, she’d probably throw it straight into the trash.
I needed to get out of here. Violence boiled inside me and all I wanted to do was grab Perry by the hair and smash her fucking face into the wall—
I stopped short when I saw Gretta and Mom standing at the end of the hall.
They’d heard.
Judging by their expressions, they’d heard everything. I suddenly wished I hadn’t said anything about Perry’s mother disliking her. It wasn’t my place.
“Aunt Gretta, I’m—”
She lifted a hand and placed it on my cheek, gently patting. Her eyes were soft when she said, “Well done, Mouse.”
That was all I could handle.
I rushed out the front doors, completely forgetting my coat and scarf and shoes, but there was no damn way I was going back in there.
My chest felt like it was caving in and I struggled to breathe. The crisp air burned my lungs and hot tears blurred my vision and spilled down my cheeks.
My whole body was a raving, furious, pulsing thing. Humiliation washed over me as I rushed along the snowy sidewalk, trying desperately to get away from the source.
“Holly, wait!” Kye yelled.
No!
How could I face him after what just happened? He heard them... Heard what Perry said... heard—
“Dammit, woman,” Kye cursed, rushing after me. “Slow down!”
I whirled around then, slipping but catching myself. Please, let’s pile on the humiliation with busting my ass outside the lodge.
“They think I don’t know I’m a mess?” I shouted, my voice shrill and filled with emotion I didn’t want to feel. “Well news flash: I know! I have to live with myself, it’s hard to miss!”
And now snot was leaking out of my nose. Perfect! I swiped it with the back of my hand, grossed out and embarrassed. God, why couldn’t I get anything right?
“Don’t look at me,” I cried when Kye was only a few steps away. “Why can’t I just be normal?”
Kye’s eyes were crinkled at the edges and I saw pity there. It nearly killed me all over again. “Please don’t look at me that way.” I couldn’t deal with pity. It only bubbled up negative memories.
“Pity he didn’t marry that girl.”
“Pity she hasn’t moved on.”
“Pity she has to visit a shrink.”
“Pity she wasn’t enough.”
“Holly?” Kye gently chucked his knuckles under my chin, lifting my gaze to his. “Fuck those people.”
His poignant sentiment caught me off guard and I regrettably snorted, which was disgusting in my current state.
“I mean it.” His fingers gave my chin a squeeze. And then he did the most startling, yet comforting, thing. He cupped my face, carefully brushing the cold tears off my cheeks with his thumbs while I stared up at him.
I’d been mistaken. It wasn’t pity in his eyes. It was only kindness. Maybe even a little buried rage if his grimace was any clue.
“They don’t deserve your time. They don’t even deserve the pleasure of your company.”
I shook my head, sarcastically mumbling, “Because I’m such a gift.”
“You’re damn right.” He smirked before his expression turned sincere. “You’re amazing Holly. This flawed, quirky, amazing woman.”
Why did my heart speed up? His words replayed in my head. Again. And again.
Flawed, quirky, amazing.
He said those words with such earnestness, they burned into me. They stamped all over my heart what I already knew about Kye.
What I forced myself to deny, to avoid at all costs, to pretend wasn’t real...
I loved him.
Against my better judgment and beyond all reason.
I love you. I love you, my silent voice screamed inside my head.
I was in love with Kye and I was doomed because I couldn’t free him. Didn’t know how and didn’t know if it was even possible.
This relationship—real or fake—was on a ticking timer to its imminent demise and there was no emergency exit off this road to misery.
“You’re freezing. Come on, let’s get you inside.”
My nerves instantly frayed. “Kye, I can’t go back in there. Please don’t make me go back in there.”
“The lobby’s empty,” he assured. “They went back to the party.”
A nervous sound eked in the back of my throat and my teeth started chattering. I allowed him to guide me back into the lodge.
“Your toes are going to fall off, you idiot,” he softly chided, and
I blew out an exhausted laugh. I sat on the bench he brought me to.
“Can we get some towels over here,” Mom asked after stopping a staff member, and rushing toward us. “Honey, are you okay? You’re shivering.”
“Guess I really should’ve grabbed my shoes and coat.”
“I’ve got it!” Aunt Gretta came scurrying across the lobby with all my stuff, and I really did feel like an idiot, running into the night without my shoes.
Kye draped my coat over my shoulders before carefully drying my feet with the towels brought to us.
“Holly—”
“Kye—”
I shook my head, cleaning up my nose with a tissue. He reached up to cup my cheek again and I curled my fingers around his wrist to keep it there.
“Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight!” the crowd in the reception hall shouted, counting down the seconds to the new year.
We’re running out of time!
Yet all I could do was stare into Kye’s eyes, holding on for what few precious seconds we had left.
“Holly, I need to say this.” His beautiful, red-flecked turquoise eyes grew serious and peered into mine as he crouched in front of me. “You’re exactly what I want. Not need. Want. I don’t need you Holly, I want you. Even if you can’t free me. Even if I only have one month a year for the next sixty—I want them to be with you. I don’t care if that makes me selfish.”
I was snot-crying all over again, dammit.
“I’ll be selfish with you every day I can. Do you understand me, Holly? You. Are. Enough.”
“Ten, nine, eight...”
“Kye, I—” I closed my eyes, my brain spinning and tumbling and trying to process everything he just said. “I love you.”
The band and crowd sang, the tune so loud it floated into the lobby, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind...”
The warmth of his hand on my cheek grew cold.
I opened my eyes and Kye was gone.
TWENTY-ONE
HOLLY
The words on the essay I graded blurred together and I had to scrub my eyes to refocus. The coffee wasn’t helping. If anything, it made me jittery.
I looked at my comm.
1:23AM, January 30.
The rest of the essays could wait until tomorrow. Well, later today. I needed rest. Just...